Monash University Handbook 2010 Postgraduate - Course

This coursework masters degree allows designers to sharpen their professional practice, and further their marketing, business and analytical skills at an advanced level. Graduates of the Master of Design will have enhanced, highly developed capabilities, which will place them at the forefront of their field of design practice.

The core of the course consists of three units of design studio extending over three semesters. These are a series of supervised projects culminating in a design product (including design system, process, or artefact). Students are required to demonstrate high level planning, resourcing, implementation and evaluation, culminating in an expert understanding of the professional design process.

Students select one of the following streams within design studio for the entire course:

• industrial design
• visual communication
• interior architecture
• multimedia design
• multidisciplinary design.

In addition to the core design studio, students take two units to support the formation of design research strategies, a unit in professional practice, and a unit which complements their other studies by extending relevant skills and knowledge. Teaching consists of studio sessions, lectures and tutorials.

Upon successful completion of the Master of Design, students will have acquired the capability to understand specific strategies and methods and have the skills to apply them in the fields of design. They will have sharpened their professional practice and taken their knowledge of marketing, business and analytical skills to a more advanced level.

Up to 24 points of credit may be granted for previously completed similar units taken at the same level, for example as part of an honours course. For similar undergraduate units, students will normally be required to make substitutions.

Assessment

Assessment is based on project work, written and verbal presentations and assignments.

The course consists of seven coursework units, usually studied full-time over three semesters. Students interested in taking the course in part-time mode should contact the course coordinator for further information.

First year

Semester one

• MDC4001 Design project (part 1)
• TAD4541 Research methods in design
• complementary study unit

Semester two

• MDC4002 Design project (part 2)
• PPR4002 Professional practice and business planning for design
• TAD4542 Research seminar in design

Second year

Semester one

• MDC5001 Design project (part 3)

The program can be exited after one or two semesters of full-time study or the equivalent:

• students exiting after successfully completing one semester of study (24 points) take out the Graduate Certificate in Design.
• students exiting after successfully completing two semesters of study (48 points) take out the Graduate Diploma of Design.

Master of Design